I checked the underside of my brick. The rear muffler (Midas vintage) has two brackets for the rubber donut ring, but only one donut ring. I bought a replacement donut ring but can't stretch it to fit onto the round mount on the frame. What's the trick here?

Maybe it is different on a 1991, but I was able to unscrew the post on the car frame. So then I put the mount on both posts, pushed up on the muffler, and screwed the post back in. Lubrication does help get it on the post.

Rob guessed that your problem was with the front muffler b/c the rear is usually the easier. Here's my tricks: (1) wipe the rods on the car and on the muffler with a little ATF, makes'em slide easier (also helps in a flame trap job). (2) Put the DS hanger on first. (3) Put the PS hanger on the muffler only. Then lying on your back, use one of your feet to push the exhaust tailpipe (and the muffler) hard in the DS direction, then work the RS hanger into positon.

Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Without actually seeing it, hard to offer advice, only guesses. I have replaced the rings myself before. Been awhile. I don't know if maybe you gotta loosen and twist the muffler a bit so the bracket is in a slightly higher position. It has really been a few years since I did it. Seems I had to use a floor jack under the muffler to sort of 'force' it to go a little higher so I could get the darn thing hooked. (Hmmm. Let me think some more.) (If you do that, by the way, careful you don't mess up the muffler with the jack.) Was the old ring 'super-stretched' out? I sort of recall that I had to remove some of the other rings so I could "tilt" the pipe so I could hook over that one ring, then put the pipe back on the rings I removed. Might want to replace the other rings also at that time, if need be. Also might just going to take some more stretching and cussing! Good luck.

You didn't specify the model, but if the pipe goes under the axle, make sure the right rear wheel is jacked up too, or the axle loads up the hangers by pulling the exhaust down. Otherwise, try a jack under the muffler with a board or soemthing to cushion it so it doesn't bend.
You should be able to pull that donut on there with a little bit of sweating and cursing.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 91 244: 808K total

Sorry, it's a 1980 DL and the rear muffler, which is adjacent to the right rear wheel is the muffler in question. Thanks!

A pry bar is your friend, too!
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 86 244DL, 87 244DL, 88 744GLE, 91 244: 808K total